A/N: so here's the second chapter. It's been edited mostly for small grammatical mistakes and a little bit's been changed but not much.
(Stupid) Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
Chapter 2: Meet Roxanne Stryker
As the team entered the alley weapons drawn the fighting and what sounded like rocks grinding against each other continued. They had only taken ten steps in when all sounds of struggling stopped. Liz then lit one of her hands so the team could see through the darkness and the sight that greeted the team shocked them all. Two trolls were unconscious on the ground and a young woman was kneeling next to them. At seeing the trolls unconscious Johan put down the canary cage he had been holding. When the fire ignited in Liz's hand the young woman's head snapped up and she quickly stood and took a defensive stance while what appeared to be a large fixed-blade knife appeared in her right hand.
"Stay back!" she growled the shadows covering her features.
"Listen kid," Hellboy said. "You really think yer gonna be able to take us down with that little knife of yers?" Then Liz made the fire in her hand grow larger lighting up alley so the girl could be seen completely. She was in her early twenties, her light brown hair in a pixie style cut, had bright green eyes and some small scars on her face, neck, and hands from what they could see but not so many that they marred her features. She was wearing a battered old leather jacket, a black t-shirt, tattered jeans, and black leather combat boots. She looked exactly like the other eight victims.
"Easily." The girl shot back with a scowl. Just then the barrels of Red's Liz's and Abe's guns bent in half turning them into useless hunks of metal. While her body language showed confidence and determination Abe caught the almost unnoticeable tremor in her voice and the look in her eyes that clearly said she was afraid.
"That's it!" Hellboy said taking a step towards the girl, but Johan flung out an arm and stopped him.
"Agent Hellboy vait." He said. "She is only acting defensively because she is afraid."
"He's right red." Liz agreed. She then turned her attention to the girl. "Don't worry," she said in a calming tone. "Were not going to hurt you."
"Yeah right." The girl sneered. "You might not hurt me, but you're going to bring me back to him and he will. Well guess what, I spent eight years in that hell hole and I am not going back!" Abe knew they needed to calm the girl down and fast.
"Honestly Miss, I think you have us confused with another group of people. We're actually here to help you." He said. To emphasize his point he put what was once his gun on the ground and held his hands up. Liz quickly followed his example and after elbowing Red in the ribs he dropped his gun. "See? We would just like to talk and explain the situation."
"I'm listening." The girl said not dropping her stance or her knife.
"We work for a government agency called the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense, or B.P.R.D. We deal with monsters and other paranormal beings and keep their contact with modern civilization as minimal as possible. We've received eight reports of troll attacking and killing civilians so when we spotted three trolls walking around Danbury we decided to come and get them before they could attack anyone. But when we got here we found you."
"If you work for the government let me see your badges." The girl said. All four agents quickly showed her their new I.D.'s but she still seemed slightly wary. "Alright so let's say I decided to believe you. What happens then?"
"Well Miss, we would like you to accompany us back to our base so that we could find out why the trolls are attacking you and help you with your situation." Abe said.
"How do I know that those badges are real and that you're not lying?" She questioned.
"Give me your hand," Abe said taking a step forward with his right hand extended. "You'll be able to see for you self." She hesitated a moment but then walked over to Abe knife still in hand and placed her left hand against his. When their hands made contact the young girl stiffened and her eyes snapped shut. While Abe was sending her all of the information she wanted to know he found a stream of images and emotions passing through his mind.
Her name was Roxanne Stryker; she was twenty-three years old and had been taking care of herself since she was sixteen. Those were the only solid perceptions he could garner from her mind. Other than that he caught glimpses of her past: a loving home, rocks moving through the air around a laughing Roxanne, being ridiculed at school, a car crash, a funeral, a tall sinister man, and then most prevalent thing she had experienced: pain, incredible and excruciation amounts of physical and emotional pain.
The connection was cut short when Roxanne ripped her hand away from Abe's her breathing ragged, and small tears in her eyes and looking very vulnerable.
"I'm sorry." Abe said feeling like he had crossed a line. Roxanne shook her head.
"It's alright, and I believe you." She murmured. She then regained her composure and looked over the four in front of her. "My name is Roxanne Stryker." She said introducing herself to each of the agents who in turn gave them their names. As she walked over to shake hands with everyone Abe noticed her knife had disappeared.
"Well, now that we're not trying to kill each other I think that we should call in clean up N' head back." Hellboy then lifted his communicator to his mouth and began to speak. "Red to trash truck we got three trolls here for pick up."
"Right Red, where are you guys at?" came Hawthorn's voice over the communicator.
"Down the side street, in the alley to the right." He then re-lit his cigar and bent down to pick up what once was his Samaritan and scowled at it.
"Oh! Here let me fix those." Said Roxanne then the barrel of Hellboy's gun straightened out and the other two on the ground were lifted off the ground, corrected and returned to their owners. Hellboy was shocked for a moment then began to inspect his gun making sure it was in working order again.
"I thought you were Geokinetic?" Abe asked confused.
"I am." Roxanne said walking over to one of the alley walls and picking up a travelers backpack leaning against it.
"Wait, what's "Geokinetic" mean?" Helboy asked confused.
"I think it's like Pyrokinesis only for rocks, right?" Liz asked. Roxanne nodded.
"Yes, that's one way to put it. I can manipulate anything that is made of earth with my mind: dirt, rock, stone, sand, minerals. If it came from the earth I can control it. If I concentrate I can turn objects to stone, and I can sense earth in objects around me." She said.
"But that doesn't explain how ya bent our guns." Hellboy said.
"Zat's right, ze guns are made of metal. So how did you do zat?" Johan asked. Roxanne smiled slightly.
"Simple, what are your guns made of?"
"Steel." Liz answered.
"Correct, and what is steel made of?" she asked.
"Of course!" Abe said making the connection. "Steel and all other metals are just refined ores…"
"Vich come from ze earth and are ultimately rocks." Johan finished.
"Exactly. I can do gemstones too." Roxanne said with a grin. Just then a group of agents shined lights in to the alley and Hawthorn walked up to them.
"Great job guys, you can get back in the truck we'll clean up here." He said gesturing for an agent to get the two unconscious trolls into a transport truck.
"Actually we didn't do anything; by the time we got here she had already taken care of the trolls." Liz said gesturing to Roxanne. Hawthorn looked her over for a minute before addressing the team.
"She's coming back with us?" He asked.
"Yes." Abe answered.
"Manning won't like it." He said contemplatively.
"All the more reason to bring 'er!" Hellboy said grinning around his cigar. Hawthorn grinned back.
"That's what I was thinking. Alright guys go get in the truck." He turned his attention to Roxanne. "It's nice to meet you Miss…" He trailed off unsure of her name.
"Roxanne Stryker." She said shaking his hand. Hawthorn nodded and went to oversee the transport team while the team walked out of the alley.
"This way Miss. Stryker." Abe said pointing in the direction of the parking lot. Roxanne adjusted the straps on her backpack and followed Abe and the others into the lot and up to the truck. The back came down and while Hellboy, Liz, and Johan walked in and made themselves comfortable Abe noticed Roxanne tense up and remain unmoving in front of the ramp, her expression clouded. He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"It's alright Miss. Stryker, you're safe now." The two then walked up the ramp and into the truck and Roxanne seemed to be in complete awe at all of the technology in the truck. "May I take you bag?" He asked snapping her out of her dazed state.
"huh? Oh! Yes, thank you Agent Sapien." She said with a blush handing Abe her bag.
"Please Miss. Stryker, call me Abe." He said in a kind voice. Roxanne blushed harder.
"Only if you call me Roxanne." She responded with a smile.
"Very well Roxanne, you can find a seat anywhere."
"Thanks Abe." She then sat down in the far corner of the truck, pulled her legs up onto the seat, pulled something out of her right sleeve and began to fiddle with it in her lap. Moments later Agent Hawthorn came by and told the team they were ready to leave. He then closed the back, and climbed into the front as the truck began to move. Abe took a seat not too far from Roxanne and watched her as she continued to fiddle with what she had pulled out of her sleeve. From what he had seen of her past she was very bright and he found that he wanted to get to know her better. This is going to interesting. He thought as the truck hit the freeway and headed back towards the Bureau.
A/N: There's chapter two. BTW her last name is pronounced Strike-er. Thank you to everyone who added this to their alerts. PLEASE REVIEW!